Pole assembly and mounting thereof

ABSTRACT

A pole assembly comprising a column, a support assembly having a plurality of upstanding support members, and a plurality of elongate base members of constant cross section, wherein in use each base member is fastened to said column and to a respective one of said upstanding support members and extends adjacent the column near its base end such that the longitudinal axis of each base member is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a pole assembly. The pole is of the type that may support items such as street lights, signs, traffic signals, pedestrian signals, security cameras, flags, banners and the like.

BACKGROUND

Poles for the mounting of street lights, signs, pedestrian signals, traffic signals, security cameras, banners and the like are well known and generally take the form of structural columns with reach arms and brackets fitted at various positions to support lights, signs and other ancillary items at desired heights and positions. These poles are generally made from hard wood, reinforced concrete or from tubular galvanised steel or sheet aluminium. Tubular poles have the advantage of the ability to hide switch gear, cables and the like inside the pole. One known type of tubular pole is depicted in international publication WO2004/08134 (Goodcart Pty Ltd) entitled “Pole Assembly”.

One disadvantage of installing a pole assembly is that each different size pole generally requires different support bases depending on the diameter and height of the pole. Many poles require additional support near their base, and one method of providing such a support is to provide a plurality of buttresses surrounding the pole. In the case of steel poles, these buttresses may each be made of plate material and welded to the pole and its base support. International patent publication WO2004/08134 discloses a pole assembly in which a structural tubular column is supported by a base plate which has a tubular support surrounded by buttresses.

One problem with such base plate, buttress and other similar support member, is that generally each base support and buttress must be specifically made to suit the diameter and height and environment in which the pole is to be situated.

The present invention preferably overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect the present invention consists in a pole assembly comprising a column, a support assembly having a plurality of upstanding support members, and a plurality of elongate base members of constant cross section, wherein in use each base member is fastened to said column and to a respective one of said upstanding support members and extends adjacent the column near its base end such that the longitudinal axis of each base member is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column.

Preferably each of said base members can during installation be height adjusted with respect to its respective upstanding member thereby allowing the column to be levelled.

Preferably each of the upstanding support members comprise a threaded rod, and each said respective base members are secured thereto by fasteners.

Preferably each base member has a groove in which the respective threaded rod is seated and the fasteners that secure the base member to the threaded rod comprises a threaded nut and washer combination disposed at opposite ends of said base member.

Preferably each base member has at least a portion of constant cross-section that is substantially U-shaped.

In one embodiment each said base member may engage with a respective track longitudinally disposed on the outer surface of said column. Preferably said track is either a raised portion or a channel.

Preferably each base member is made of an extruded material.

Preferably a bracket for use in supporting an item on said pole is made from the same extruded material used for said base member.

Preferably said base members are fastened to said columns by threaded bolt fasteners.

Preferably said support assembly is adapted to be anchored in a concrete foundation.

Preferably in a second embodiment said column is a square or rectangular post and the base members are adapted to be disposed at longitudinal corner edges of said post.

According to a second aspect the present invention consists in a pole assembly comprising a column, a support assembly having a plurality of substantially upright projecting threaded rods, and a plurality of elongate base members of constant cross section, each base member having an elongate groove therein, wherein in use each base member is fastened to said column and to a respective one of said threaded rods and extends adjacent the column near its base end such that the longitudinal axis of each base member is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column, each base member fastened to its respective threaded rod by seating the rod in its groove and by a combination of threaded nuts and washers located on the rod above and below the base member, and each of said base members can during installation be height adjusted with respect to its respective threaded rod by adjusting the threaded nuts and washers thereby allowing the column to be leveled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now discussed with reference to drawings, where:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a pole assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the lower portion of a pole assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a pole assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the pole assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic plan view of the engagement of the column, base members and support assembly of the pole assembly of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict first and second embodiments of a tubular structural column 1 of a pole assembly in accordance with the present invention. The pole assemblies of FIGS. 1 and 2 are for different purposes, namely a traffic light/pedestrian signal post and a marina pole, respectively. Whilst the poles may have different purposes they have similar support arrangements and therefore will be described together and utilise like reference numerals.

Structural column 1 is cylindrical, and adapted to be secured to a support assembly 15 by means of four substantially U-shaped base members (feet) 10. The column 1 may preferably be manufactured from extruded aluminium alloy. The structural column has four integral external (projecting) tracks 2 that run substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the column.

The support assembly 15 comprises four threaded rods (rag bolts) 17 which may be embedded in a concrete footing 18 (see FIG. 2). The four U-shaped base members 10 are each identical and are of elongate constant cross section. Each U-shaped base member 10 has a groove 5 that allows it to be fitted to the external tracks 2 of structural column 1 and bolted thereto by threaded bolts 7. The U shaped base members 10 are able to be secured to a respective threaded rod 17 by means of upper and lower nuts 20 and washers 21. The lower nuts and washers allow for leveling of column 1 by height adjustment of base members 10 relative to respective threaded rods 17. Each base member 10 is fastened to its respective upstanding threaded rod 17 adjacent the column 1 near its base end, such that the longitudinal axis of each base member 10 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of column 1.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 the structural column 1 is further encased by a cladding 13 and upper and lower castings 19. Cladding 13 need only surround the structural column at a level extending between the ground and to a short distance near pedestrian height. As the structural column 1 is tubular, it can have wiring conduit 30 and/or other conduits and devices entering its interior from below the pavement 25 through aperture 26.

FIGS. 3 to 5 depict a third embodiment of a pole assembly. In this embodiment, structural column 1 a is a square post i.e. it has a substantially square cross section, and the pole assembly is for street signage use. Each base member 10 a has a U-shaped portion 11 for engagement with threaded rods 17 in a like manner to the base member 10 of first and second embodiments. However, in this embodiment, each base member 10 a each has a corner angle portion 12 adapted to seat on one of the longitudinal edges 23 of the column 1 a and be bolted thereto by bolts at location 17.

An advantage of the abovementioned embodiments is that the base members 10 or 10 a can be made from an extruded material. Furthermore a single extruded material of constant cross-section may be used to manufacture base members 10 or 10 a of varying length to suit the support of different sized poles.

It may also be possible to use the same extruded material used to make base members 10 or 10 a to make brackets suited to engage with columns 1 or 1 a to attach items at an elevated location.

Such items may be anyone of a street light, sign, traffic signal, pedestrian signal, security camera, banner or the like.

It should be understood that in other not shown embodiments the base members need not be substantially U-shaped or have U-shaped portions, but must be of constant cross-section and able to be secured to a support assembly.

Also, in an alternative embodiment the tracks 2 formed in the column 1 that engages with base member 10 may not be external (raised), but instead may be an elongate channel or recess of constant cross-section formed in column 1. In such an embodiment the base member would have an elongate projection of constant cross section that engages with such a channel. 

1. A pole assembly comprising a column, a support assembly having a plurality of upstanding support members, and a plurality of elongate base members of constant cross section, wherein in use each base member is fastened to said column and to a respective one of said upstanding support members and extends adjacent the column near its base end such that the longitudinal axis of each base member is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column.
 2. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said base members can during installation be height adjusted with respect to its respective upstanding member thereby allowing the column to be leveled.
 3. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the upstanding support members comprise a threaded rod, and each said respective base members are secured thereto by fasteners.
 4. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each base member has a groove in which the respective threaded rod is seated and the fasteners that secure the base member to the threaded rod comprises a threaded nut and washer combination disposed at opposite ends of said base member.
 5. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each base member has at least a portion of constant cross-section that is substantially U-shaped.
 6. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said base member may engage with a respective track longitudinally disposed on the outer surface of said column.
 7. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said track is either a raised portion or a channel.
 8. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each base member is made of an extruded material.
 9. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein a bracket for use in supporting an item on said pole is made from the same extruded material used for said base member.
 10. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base members are fastened to said columns by threaded bolt fasteners.
 11. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support assembly is adapted to be anchored in a concrete foundation.
 12. A pole assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said column is a square or rectangular post and the base members are adapted to be disposed at longitudinal corner edges of said post.
 13. A pole assembly comprising a column, a support assembly having a plurality of substantially upright projecting threaded rods, and a plurality of elongate base members of constant cross section, each base member having an elongate groove therein, wherein in use each base member is fastened to said column and to a respective one of said threaded rods and extends adjacent the column near its base end such that the longitudinal axis of each base member is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column, each base member fastened to its respective threaded rod by seating the rod in its groove and by a combination of threaded nuts and washers located on the rod above and below the base member, and each of said base members can during installation be height adjusted with respect to its respective threaded rod by adjusting the threaded nuts and washers thereby allowing the column to be leveled. 